RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 0:47
The stakes couldn’t be higher – operatives must determine if the rumors surrounding a deadly explosive device are true, and, if so, defuse it before it brings about the end of the world.
“Hello Agents,”
You are currently standing in a World War 2 era bunker. Upon its discovery last week, one of our best agents was sent here to investigate. He has not been heard from since and is currently listed as MIA. This bunker was believed to have belonged to a brilliant Nazi scientist and spy who infiltrated the US in 1942 and was a leading inventor of computer Artificial Intelligence, Rocket, and Atomic Weapon Technologies. It was believed that at the time, he was quietly developing a weapon of mass destruction but the whereabouts of his secret lab were never discovered and the scientist disappeared without a trace more than 70 years ago.
Your Mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find our missing agent and carry out his last objectives: determine if there is a doomsday device hidden here and if so, disable it at all costs.
“(this message will self destruct in 5…4…3…)”
A team of intelligence officers needs to coordinate their efforts to evade the sophisticated security system and break into the physicist’s lair to answer the questions surrounding his classified work. Is his last project fully operational, posing an imminent threat to the safety of the entire Western world, or is it all just an urban legend?
What begins as a historical inquiry into a forgotten 1940s hideout rapidly escalates into a high-stakes, time-sensitive emergency as the true nature of the lingering experiment comes to light. The assignment transforms from a reconnaissance mission to a fight for survival. Once the nuclear weapon is located, will there be enough time to neutralize it before disaster strikes?
The endeavor begins in a weathered WWII bunker scattered with uniforms and supplies. An antique radio plays softly in the background. A time-worn German war poster and a missile schematic drawing both hang on the walls as a solemn reminder of the gravity of this incursion.
Cryptic markings on the walls of a dark elevator hold the key to moving down to the clandestine underground site. Once there, a high tech security system protects the entrance to the lab. Bright green beams of light intersect in all directions, forcing field agents to join forces to carefully maneuver this maze and deactivate the alarm without setting it off.
Gaining access to the restricted research facility immediately sheds light on the location of the missing operative. A variety of classic guns hang on display, while a retro computer terminal sits on a compact desk next to a crank phone. Peering through a narrow viewport in the control room’s locked door reveals colorfully lit instrument panels with what appears to be a large bomb sitting ominously in the foreground. 
Bringing this high-stakes narrative to life relies heavily on how the puzzles are structured inside the space. Tactile interactions dominate Agent 13, requiring investigators to actively manipulate objects rather than simply opening standard padlocks. Tasks are well aligned to the WWII/espionage theme and the narrative flows coherently from space to space. Several challenges involve teamwork (make sure to recruit a flexible friend), which justifies the four-person minimum for this escape game.
The grand finale requires a great deal of reading and stellar speaking and listening skills as operatives will be split into two groups, with the vintage phone being the linking pin between them. This escalates the sense of urgency as the division forces frantic, precise verbal communication under pressure. The tension is palpable as the doomsday clock runs down while the painstaking steps to disarm the explosive must be meticulously followed despite the barrier separating the crew.
Agent 13 is a physical game that requires crawling through a small passage and weaving through a laser obstacle course. Navigating these tight spaces and low-clearance areas adds to the thrill, but participants should prepare for bending, ducking, and quick stepping throughout the operation.
13th Gate Escape has created an immersive environment that steals a page right out of a 007 movie. The puzzles and the scenery work together to help propel the heart-racing narrative. This challenge is designed for a seasoned squad ready to cooperate and communicate their way to the finish line. For anyone brave enough to attempt stopping a global catastrophe, report for duty—just try not to trip over the lasers.
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Venue: 13th Gate Escape
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Number of Games: 8
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 8 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: $34.99 per person
We thank 13th Gate Escape for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.
